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('No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. GRIPPITH& L. P. RAMSEY. GRAIN METER.

N0. 287,535. Patented Oct. 30, 1883.

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H. GRIFFITH & L. P. RAMSEY.

GRAIN METER.

No. 287,535. Patented Oct. 30, 1883.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAZAEL GRIFFITH AND LEVIS F. RAMSEY, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

GRAIN-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,535, dated October30, 1883.

Application filed April 17, 1883. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern.-

- Be it known that we, HAZAEL GRIFFITH and Lnwrs F. RAMSEY, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo andState of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Grain-Meter, of whichthe following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in grain-meters; and the object ofour invention is to provide a machine to measure grain by weight as itcomes from a thrashing-machine, elevator, or chute.

The grain passes through the hopper into the measuring-box until theweight which the machine is set to register is attained, when thetilting of the beam liberates a spring, which closes the bottom of thehopper and corn nects gearing which opens the bottom of themeasuring'box. As soon as the box is empty the bottom is closed byanother spring, and the gearing, after opening the bottom of the hopper,is disconnected until the weight in the box shall again cause it to beconnected. \Ve attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of themachine Fig. 2, a vertical section of the hopper; Fig.

, 3, a plan and horizontal section of thehopper on the lines 1 and and4, Fig; 2; Fig. 4, an elevation of the scale-beam in its connection withthe double lever; Fig. 5, the dogs used in throwing in and out of gearparts of the machinery; Fig. 6, a plan view; Fig. 7, a side elevationand vertical section of upper lever and clutch; Fig. 8, a verticalsection of cone-bearing and point of lower lever.

Similar letters refer to si milar parts through.- out the several views.

In a frame, A, Fig. 1, having a top, F, in the center of which is acircular opening fitted with a hopper, D, beneath the hopper and top, isa measuring-box, B, having a bottom,which is in two parts, R It, theparts be ing hinged, one to either side of the box, at the lower edge,and open from the middle downward. In the middle of each end, and nearthe upper edge of the box B, are links a a, by means of which the box ishung on a double lever, O, which is attached or hung to the frame A bythe links I) b.

The hopper D, Fig. 3, has a removable bottom or oscillating cutoffslide, E, for the purpose of cutting off the flow of grain into themeasuring-box B while the box is being emptied. The circular opening inthe top F is fitted with a bush, X, having an exterior an nular flange,y, resting on the top F, and secured thereto by means of bolts or screwspassing through the flange into the top. On the upper edge of the bush Xis an annular flange, 3/, standing at an angle of about fortyfivedegrees, to the outer and upper part of which the sheet-iron part (2 ofthe hopper is secured. The inner part of this flange serves as a shieldto prevent grain falling or collecting on flange y. Inside of bush X,below slide E, is an annular flange, 9/, having slots or openings 2.This flange forms a support for slide E, and the openings 2 allowanygrain or other matter that would otherwise obstruct or prevent theperfect closing of the slide to escape into the box below, and alsoprevent slide E cracking grains by catching them between its edge andthe inner surface of bush X. For the same purpose the edge of slide E isbeveled on the under side. flanges 3/ and y" a slot, 2, is cut throughthe wall of bush X and extends throughout about one-half thecircumference of the bush. This slot admits the passage of slide E toand fro, as it opens or closes the bottom of hopper D. The slide E isfixed to the top F by means of a pivot, c, Fig. 3, and is connected by arod, (1, with lever G.

The lever G, which operates the slide E, oscillates on a stud, e, whichis bolted to the frame A. The lever G has a flange, f, bearing a sectionof cogs, which engage the cogs on wheel H, and also a notch, p, in whichthe dog 1? catches. On the back of the flange f on lever G is a lug, m,to lift up the spring bolt V. On the face of the flanged lever G, andinclosing the stud c, is a circular case, 9, with its cap or cover, h,which is secured in its place by means of a screw passing through a holein the center of the cover into the end of the stud 0. Inside thecircular ease g is a coiled spring, 1', one end of which is fastened tothe inside of the wall of the case and the other end to stud e, for thepurpose of closing slide E and throwing the lever Gin such a positionthat the cogs on flange f will engage those on the rotating wheel H, forthe Just above the I purpose of opening the slide E. In the outside ofthe wall of case 9 is a cam, j, which op- -crates the forked lever I.

The lever I, Fig. 7, is pivoted by a bolt or pin to an arm, k, of theiron frame J and operates the clutch K, which connects the wheel H withthe driving-shaft L.

The frame J, Fig. 6, supports the outer end of the driving-shaft L, andhas an arm, k, to which is fixed the lever I. The iron frame also has astandard, 0*, to which is pivoted the dog P. The shaft L is fitted witha drivepulley, U, and may be driven by any suitable or convenient power.The wheel H and the clutch K are on this shaft.

The clutch K is in two parts, o'nepart being loosely keyed to the wheelH and consists of a cog-wheel, Z, and a collar, on, having an annulargroove, n, in which the fork end of lever I rests, by means of whichthis part of the clutch is connected or disconnected with the other partof the clutch. The other part of the clutch is a wheel, 0, and is keyedfast to the drivingshaft L, and has a series of cogs or pins, g, on oneside, and teeth on its periphery. The cogs or pins g on the side ofwheel 0 operate with the cogs 011 wheel Z to connect wheel H with thedriving-shaft L, and the teeth on the periphery of the wheel 0 operatewith dog 0 to throw dog P out of notch 19 in lever G. The

dog P is pivoted to the standard r and drops in notch 19 on flange oflever G, for the purpose of holding the slide E open.

On one end of the double lever 0, Fig. 4, is an arm, N, extendingdownward and outward, and is connected with dog 0 by means of a wrist,g, on the arm N, passing through a slot, 0, in dog 0, which is hinged todog P in such a manner that when the weight in the measuring-box B tipsthe double lever G the arm N presses dog 0 downward until it catches onone of the teeth of wheel 0, when the motion of the wheel draws dog Oforward and swings dog P on its pivot, so as to throw the upper end ofthe dog P out of notch 17.

The wheel H revolves on the shaft L, and is loosely keyed to clutch K.It has 011 its periphery a section of cogs, which operate with those onthe flange f of lev'er G to open slide E, and with those on, flange f oflever G to open the bottom R B of box B. The number of cogs on wheel His equal to those on flange f, and occupy about one-fourth'of/thecircumference of the wheel, the other three-fourths being cut away on aline with the base of the cogs. At the base of the last cog in thesection is a notch, s, which receives the long cog u, and a littlefarther on is another notch, t, which allows cog a to slip by.

Thelever G, for the purpose of opening and closing the bottom R B of themeasuring-box B,oscillates on a stud, e, which is bolted to the frame A.The lever G has a flange, f, bearing a section of cogs, whichengage'those on wheel H, the cogs on flange f being one more in numberthan those on the wheel. The

last cog a, being longer than the others, drops into notch s. The leverG then stops, and is held by the cog a pressing against the surface ofwheel H as the wheel revolves, until the notch t reaches cog a andallows it to slip by,

when the spring 23 throws the lever G back and closes the bottom R B ofthe measuringbox. On the face of the flange f of lever G,

and inclosing the stud e, is a circular case, 9,

having a cap or cover, h, which is secured in place by means of a screwpassing through a hole in the center of the cover into the end of thestud e.

Inside the circular case 9 is a coiled spring, 1', one end of which isfastened to the inside of the wall of the case, and the other end to thestud e, for the purpose of throwing back the lever G and closing thebottom B- R of box B. The spring a" also acts as a springbalance inconnection with the weighing de vice, and serves to steady theweighing-beam.

The bottom R B of the measuring-box B is in two parts, the parts beinghinged one to either side of the box B at the lower edge of below theopening of the hollow cone. The 'arm of lever G is bent backward andreaches underneath the measuring box B to bearing S, and, passingthrough loop 10, is' bent upward and terminates in a point, 8, whichrests in the hollow cone S, the loop 10 being the bearing in thedownward movement and the cone S the bearing in the upward movement oflever G. The arrangement is designed to form a self-centering rest forthe measuringbox B and a self-centering bearing for the lever G andavoid friction.

In connection with the working of the bottom R R, a spring-bolt, W, isplaced 011 the end; of the measuring-box just back of the flanged leverG in such a position that when the bottom R R is thrown upward the lowerend of the bolt W catches on one of the cogs on the flange o and holdsthe bottom R R up until the slide E closes the bottom of the hopper D,when a lug, w, on the back of flange f, lifts the spring-bolt from thecog on flange '0, so that the bottom R B may be opened.

, The weighing device consists of a double lever, 0, Fig. 4, and asingle lever, T, in connection with the spring 0'. The double lever aloop, 10, which extends across and a little G is attached-by means oflinks a a to the midlink I). The single lever is the scale-beam, and hasa graduated sea-1e marked on one side, and is provided with suitableweights and balancing device. The arrangement is designed to givecompactness of form and admit of being cased and locked to preventtampering with the parts while the machine is in operation.

The spring i in lever G is part of the weighing device, one of its usesand purposes being that of a spring-balance. It is not intended to be ofsufficient strength to register all the weight which the measuring-boxwill hold, and may be strong enough only to balance the empty box. Itsuse as a balance is to offer a slight but steady resistance to theweight in the box, so that when the required weight which the machine isset to register is almost attained any sudden shock or jarsuch as mightbe communicated by the belt from the driving-power or from adjacentrunning machinerycannot cause the weighing-beam to vibrate, and sodischarge the measuring-box before the full weight registered shall havebeen reached. The tension of spring 1" is bat anced or indicated on thescale beam or lever T.

Any ordinary device for registering revolu tions may be placed inconnection with the rotating-wheel H, which makes one revolution foreach time the measuring-box B is emptied.

Ye are aware that grainmeters have been made which measure by weight.\Ve therefore do not claim the principle involved; but what we do claim,and desire to secure Letters Patent on, is the mechanism by which weattain the desired result.

\Ve claim 1. In. a graiirmeter, a frame, A, double lever 0, links a a,Z) Z), cone-bearing S, and point .9 of lever G, in combination with aineasnring-box, B, having a removable bottom which is in two parts, tit,the parts R It being each fitted with a quarter circular flange, o '0',and operating in connection with and by means of cog-tlange of lever G,bearing S, loop 10, point 8, and spring-bolt \V, substantially as shownand described.

2. In a grainaneter, in combination with a frame, A, and measuring-boxB, the hopper I), having a removable bottom or slide, E, which swings011 a pivot, 0, fixed in the top F, the bush X fitti 11g in the circularopening in the top F and forming a base for the hopper D, the flange "y,resting 011 the top I and secured to the same, the annular flange y, towhich the sheet-iron part (1 is secured, the interior annular flange, y,having the slots the slot .2 in the wall of bush X, to admit the passageof slide E through the wall of the bush, substantially as and for thepurposes described and set forth,

3. In combination with hopper D, a lever, G, oscillating on a stud, c,which is bolted to the frame A, the rod (1, connecting lever G withslide E, substantially as described, and for the purposes set .forth.

4. In combination with the lever G, oscillating on a stud, e, theflangef, bearing a section of cogs, the notch 11, the lug w 011 the backof flange f, the circular case and cover It, the coiled spring a, whichthrows back the lever G, and the cam j, which operates lever I,substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

5. In combination with frame A, the iron frame J, supporting the outerend of shaft L, the arm 7;, supporting lever I, and the standard r,supporting dog P, substantially as described, and for the purposes setforth.

6. I11 a grain-meter, in combination with frame A and frame J, thedriving shaft L,

having a pulley, U, the clutch K, composed of a wheel, 0, having cogs orpins g on one side and teeth on its periphery, and a cog-wheel, Z,collar m, and groove a, and the wheel II, with its section of cogs,notch i, and notch s, substantially as and for the purp oscs describedand set forth.

7. In combination with clutch K, lever G, and double lever 0, an arm, N,extending downward and outward, the wrist g, slot 0, through which thewrist passes, the dog 0, to connect with the teeth of wheel 0, and thedog P, hinged to dog 0 and pivoted to standard '1' in such a position asto catch in notch p, substantially as described, and for the purposesset forth.

8. The notches s and i and that part ofthe periphery of wheel H betweennotches s and t, in combination with cog a on flange f of lever G,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

9. A lever, G, having a flangc l", bearing on its face a circular case,with its cover 71, in combination with a stud, c and spring '17,substantially as described,and for the purposes set forth.

10. In combination with the bottom It It of box B, the lever G,terminating in a point, e, the bearing S, and loop to, substantially asdescribed and set forth.

11. The bottom R R, having flanges v c, in combination with lever G,spring 1', point 8, bearing S, loop in, box B, and spring-bolt \V,substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.

12. In a grain-meter, the spring-bolt IV, in combination with themeasuringbox I3, the cog-flange a, spring 2 and lug 00, on the back offlange f, and lever G, as and for the purposes described and set forth.

13. In a grain-meter, as a weighing device, asingle lever or scale-beam,T, in combination with spring i, lever G, double lever 0, links a a, bI), a, and b,.frame A, box 13, bottom R R, cone S, and points,substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

HAZAEL GRIFFITH. LEWIS F. RAMSEY. lVitnesses:

James B. ALLAN, SAMUEL A. Wnrrirnn.

